Rudder-blade for steam vessels.



PATENTED 00T. 18, 1904.

J. E. FISHER. vRUDDER BLADE FOR STEAM vEssELs.

APPLICATION FILED DC. 8,'1903.

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G Y O Patented October 18, 1904.

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ance offered by wind or current.

.IOI'IN F. FISHER, OF BROOKPOFT, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONF-HALF ELISHA BAUGH, OF BROOKPORT, ILLINOIS.

RUDD-ER-BLADE FOR STEAM VESSELS.

A SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 772,794, dated October 18, 1904.

i Application filed December 8, 1903. Serial No. 184,309. (No model.)

primary objectof the Same is to provide a,

simple and effective form-of rudder having a propeller located therein which will not carry a swell of dead water after the stern, .of the boat, as in the ordinary form of rudder, and also enable a boat equipped with the same to be more quickly turned in a shorter arc than is now possible and to dispose thev bow or stern of the vessel in a positive position, as may be required in approaching a landing or at any other point, irrespective of the resist- The improved rudder mechanism is so constructed 'that the shaft controlling the Operation of the same may be disconnected from the motor power in case of accident to adapt the pro- 4 peller to be manually'operated direct.

Another advantage of the improved rudder construction is that a boat embodying the same may be turned under full speed without listing or careening, and when used ona naval `vessel the bow of the latter canY be held toward the enemy to perform certain tactics, and turn canbe made within the length of the vessel, and any position desired may be obtained by the helmsman, who has absolute with a vertical slot 3, and extending through i l said post is the rear end of a driving-shaft 4,

having a crank 5 at its inner end adapted 'to be suitably connected to an engine or other motor. 'The shaft 4 ispreferably made in two sections and connected by a coupling 6, so that in the event of accident to the motor the improved rudder structure will not be impaired and the part of the shaft connected to the engine may be detached from the rear section of said shaft, and steering means may hereinafter set' forth. -f

The rudder comprises a blade 7 of usual termediate point. At the upper and lower terminals of the offset or at the point where the said offset continues'into the upper and and lower ends ofl a power-transmitting shaft 11, which is also engaged at lan intermediate point by a bearing-'strap v12, secured to the stern-post 1 and ladjacent rear portion of the vessel. .A rabbet 13 is formed in the lower inner part ofthe rudder to permit the ruddei` to swing freely over a rear extension of the keelson, and rising from said extension is a fulcrum stud or pin 14, which is fitted in thelower vertical portion of the rudder-post 8. Adjacent to the offset 9 of the rudder the blade 7 of the latter has apropeller-opening 15 formed therein, and extending across the center of said opening in the longitudinal direction of the rudder is a propeller-shaft 16, on'which is secured a propeller 17 of any suitable form. The propeller-shaft projects inwardly beyond theinner edge of the oiset 9 of the rudder-post is held in continual mesh with a corresponding miter-gear 19, keyed on the shaft 11. Above the bearing-strap 12 another miter- -gear 2O is keyed on the shaft 11 and in a po,-

sition reverse to the gear 19, the said gear 2O meshing with a miter-gear 21 on the rear projecting end of the shaft 4. The recesses 8 in thestern-post 1 and the offset 9 of the rudderlower vertical portions of the post 8 metallic bearings 10 are secured to receive the upperl and has a miter-gear 18 keyed thereon, which post 8 form an open space in which to dispose then be used Without4 the propelling means contour and dimensions anda post 8, having l an offset-9 In an outward direction at an Inthe miter-gears just described, so that the rudder as an entirety may be litted closely against the rear of the vessel.

In the operation of the mechanism as set forth motion is imparted to the shaft 4, which operates the gears 21, 20, and 19 and the shaft 16 through the medium of the gear 18, thereby rotating the propeller 17, the direction of movement of the propeller depending upon the direction of rotation of the shaft. The rudder will be turned at different angles by the usual steering means, and the propeller is equally shifted therewith without in the least disturbing the engaging relation of the gears, and by having the propeller located in the rudder the disadvantageous effect of dead-water swells at the stern of the boat will be avoided and steering' of the latter will be rendered materially sensitive. Other advantages heretofore noted will also result from the use of the improved rudder carrying the propeller as set forth, and to accommodate different applications it will be understood that changes in the proportions, dimensions, and minor details may be resorted to without in the least y departing from the spirit of the invention.

a miter-gear on its rear end within thc recess, a rudder having a blade with a post at the inner terminal thereof and an opening therethrough adjacent to said post, the post being offset adjacent to its point of attachment to the blade to provide a seat having metallic bearings at the upper and lower terminals thereof, a power-transmitting shaft vertically disposed in the said seat and having its ends extending into the bearings, reversely-positioned unter-gears keyed on the said vertical power-transmitting shaft and spaced apart from each other, the upper gear being held in continual mesh with the similar gear on the rear end of the sectional shaft, a bearingstrap on the vertical shaft between the 'mitergears and connected to the stern-post, the recess in the stern-post and the seat on the rudder-post permitting the said rudder-post to be closely arranged in relation to the sternpost and permit the gears to have ample room for operation, and a propeller-shaft extending across the opening in the rudder-blade and having a propeller thereon movable through said opening, and a miter-gear on its inner terminal meshing with the lower similar `gear of the power-transmitting shaft.

ln testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN F. FISHER. Titnessesz Jol-IN lV. BLACK, S. JACKSON BROWN. 

